TAKING DOWN THE WALL OF WORDS

Table of Contents

• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• A Role for Community Agencies
  • A Problem We Cannot Ignore
  • Different Degrees of Literacy
  • How Well Can Canadians Read, Write and Use Numbers?
• Learning to Communicate
  • Make People Feel Comfortable
  • You Can Make a Difference
  • No Guarantees
• Literacy Partners
• Literacy Coalitions and Networks

Preface

Nineteen-ninety marked the start of what many people are calling the “literacy decade.” So, with funding from the National Literacy Secretariat of the Secretary of State of Canada, a Project Management Group consisting of representatives of the United Way-Centraide Canada, the YMCA Canada, the Movement for Canadian Literacy, the Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies and the John Howard Society of Canada, looked for ways community agencies could have an effect on improving literacy levels in Canada.

Researchers across the country found examples of how community agencies are making sure that people who cannot read and write well can use their services. They also came up with ideas on how these organizations can be an important link between the people who have difficulty reading and writing and the many literacy programs available across Canada.

The research team found that many of the people served by community agencies have trouble reading and writing. Low literacy is often one of many problems faced by people who are poor, sick, out of a job or in trouble with the law.

This is the first of two booklets that give ideas on how community and literacy groups can form literacy partnerships with each other, and with the people they serve. Part 1 talks about simple ways community agencies can open up their services to people with low literacy skills and how they can work with literacy groups to encourage people who want to improve these skills to take literacy courses. It also gives an overview of literacy in Canada and the everyday challenges faced by people who cannot read and write well.

Part 2 is filled with ideas on how organizations which want to make a commitment to providing accessible services and who want literacy referrals to be part of their everyday work can do so.

On behalf of the Project Management Committee and the research team, I would like to thank the many individuals and groups who told us of their experiences so that these booklets could contribute to improving literacy and understanding in Canada.